Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1887-03-11
THE SESSION ENDED.
The xLIxth Congress Adjourns on
the 4th.
The Closing Hours.

body was excited Members were anxious
to get matters attended To which had been
pending for some time. In their eagerness
To catch the speakers eye and reach men
whose influence was desired tumbled, over
each other like boys on play ground.
Added 10 this the session had lasted for
4s hours, and the members were sore
headed, sleepy and uncharitable.
The night before congress ad iourned was
"A busy one at the executive mansion, The
president had notified the president OF the
senate and speaker of the house that the
executive mansion would be open all night
and that he would be on hand at all hours
to pass upon matters requiring executive
action. The president passed "A good part
OF the night at his desk in the library, OK
aiming and signing bills and consulting
With members OF his cabinet about appro-
priations affecting their respective de
partments. All through the night the
president remained about the library, and
at intervals messengers arrived with bills
that had passed both houses and only
needed the president, signature TO become
laws. Two important bills which had been
before the president for I'D days-the anti
poiygamy and the trade dollar bills-wcre
allowed to become laws without his sigma
ture but "A large number were considered
and signed during the night At an early
hour in the morning, however he went TO
the capital in time TO sign several bills be
fore the adjournment.
The presi lent failed TO sign the river and
harbor appropriation bill prior TO ad journ-
ment and IL consequently dies He spent
three hours considering IL and then de
cined to sign 1t.
Despite the fact that very great deal
of time has been wasted in useless debates
by this congress- much has been accom-
plshed in the way of enactment OF general
laws Never were there 50 many bills in
PRODUCED, and more were reported from
committees than at any previous con-
crosses More, too, are left on the calend-
ers as blasted hopes than was ever known
at the expiration of IA congress. There
were introduced in the house during the
session Just ended | .2)g bills and 263 Joint
resolutions. OF these measures Alb were
reported back from the various commit
tee, with favorable or adverse recommen-
dation and a ma iority of them have died,
so far a having any legislative
statu~ Is concerned. If they are
u have any life in future con
crosses they must be reintroduced
There were introduced in the senate 3.351
bills and ll6 Joint resolutions, and thu per
cent reported from committees was lit
tie higher than IN the house. During the
last two days OF the session the calendars
of the two house, increased I'm size rather
than diminished. owing T. reports made
for the purpose of giving character 10 the
measures rather than with IA view of
bringing about their passage.
The following are the acts OF the last
session of this congress which have IA gen
eral interest Retiring certain officers of
the navy of the Cnitei States: for the re-
lief of certain soldiers of the Michigan
volunteer infantry. honOrably discharged
under special orders ~. war department,
March l. 1866. amending the revised stat
ute, relating TO pensions TO certain dis
ahlel IeTsOns who have served IN the
navy or marine corps: extending the free
delivery system of the postoflice
department TO every incorporated city
or village with population Of 1000,
| or having gross postal receipts of slO,OOO
year, authorizing the construction OF n
bridge across the st. Louis river between
Minnesota and Wisconsin; granting pen
sionS 10 the soldiers aud sailors of the
Mexican war, providing school of IN
/ structon for cavalry and light artillery
fixing the dRy for the meeting ~ the elcc
tors OF president and vice president, and
10 provide for and regulate the counting
of the vote for president and vice presi
PRECEDENT and the decisions OF questions
arising thereon ulaHth 8Ef6i5Gs7 the " Missis-
Slppl river at st. Louis. Mo. regulating
inter state commerce, amending the law
relating - patents trade marks and copy
rights providing for the allotment of
lands IN severalty 10 Indians, declaring
the forfeiture of lands granted TO the New
I Orleans. Bntan Rouge q ickSburg rail
road company making an annual appro
pTiation of 100000 for arms and equip
nents for the militia. establishing "A mill
tary post at Denver. Col. providing for
the execution of certain sections OF the
treaty with China, and prohibiting nited
States official, from hiring out the labor
Of federal prisoners.
The retaliation bin has received the
Presidents signature. and is now law.
The measure il known as the Edmunds
. md nj 1T
the Pre- -ident l. convinced that our fisher
men or fishing vessels are deprived OF
their rights or haras~cd or veXed in Cana
dian ports or waters, ~ may 10y proclama-
ton exclude Canadian vessels from the
waters and ports of the United States.
such vessels and their cargoes NAV be
seized. aud the crews fined or imprisoned.
In this connection II may Ice well 10 state
that u ha> been decidedto introduce "A bill
in the dominion parliament raising the
dutie, on all imports from the United
States, the measure 10 take effect when
ever the Edmunds retaliation bill i put
into elect 10y the United states.
There is no one subject OF more interest
10 the labor element than that of convict
labor aud we append synopsis OF the re.
port of Carroll -. Wright commissioner
of labor on this subject. He says that
the prison population OF b+.GOl has a pro-
portion Of one in thuu-ald to the popu-
lation of the lnited States. Whatever
competition. considering the country Mt
large, which comes from convict labor in
any form, must come from this one con
Wet in one thousand OF the population
not the proportion to those engaged in
mechanical pursuits IN the whole country,
which l. about one convict 10 every fifty
persons So employed The United States
prisoners included in the above estimate
number l.240, and they are distributed
through the different states The industry
employing the greatest number is that Of
boots and shoes. the manufacture of cloth
ing standing next. then stone dressing,
then farming, gardening, furniture, min
ing, lumber and carpeting in the order
named. The total product OF all penal in
situations is fifty four one hundredths OF
one per cent. OF the total products of the
industries of the country The report states
that ~ is perfectly evident from informa-
ton obtained that the competition arising
! from the employment Of convicts as far as
the whole country l. concerned, would not
OF itself constitute a question worthy of Sc
rious iii. cussion However, locally and in
certain districts. says the report, the com
petition may be serious and of such porpor-
lions as 10 claim the most serious atten-
ton OF legislatures. The commissioner
concludes that the system of hand labor
I'M rn1n CaH in 10 mi vs.,.lI